My Surprise Mate

Dane moved Kyra’s bassinet from the living room into our bedroom.

As I got Kyra situated in our room, Dane went outside to talk to the guys and fill them in.

He wasn’t gone long and told me our house would be guarded from now until Devin is found.I had this gut feeling there was more going on than we realized.I couldn’t sleep at all, and Dane slept off and on.I lay there watching Kyra most of the night and every little noise I heard had me sitting up in bed.

Kyra woke up around five that morning and I decided to stay up for the day.

After getting us both dressed, I headed to the kitchen to make breakfast.

Kyra seemed to be her normal happy self just like any other morning, blissfully unaware of what was going on.

Unsure if all three guys had stayed outside all night or not, I opened the front door and stepped out to find Zayd standing near the steps, "Good morning," I told him.

He smiled at me as he walked up the steps, "Morning dear.You should still be asleep."

He pulled me in for a hug.

Zayd and Adria acted like parents I never had, and they always seemed to help ease my worries.

"I couldn’t sleep and, besides, Kyra woke up hungry this morning."

he smiled and nodded his head, "well she is a growing girl, and we tend to eat more than normal humans."

"l was going to offer some breakfast and coffee but wasn’t sure or Colby.

"I'll take some coffee," Zayd replied.

"Me too!" I turned to find Ash walking toward the porch.

Neither of them looked as tired as I felt this morning.I led them into the kitchen and started pouring them each a cup while they sat down at the table.

"Good morning little princess," Zayd cooed to Kyra.She smiled brightly at him as he picked her up.

"Did y’all stay outside the whole night?" I questioned them.

"Yes and no,"

Ash started, "Four people were guarding all night, but we did rotate out with three of our best warriors to be able to squeeze in a little sleep."

I nodded in understanding as I handed them their mugs.

"Don’t forget Adria was here periodically through the night too."

"I had no idea she was out here too."

I watched as Zayd and Ash exchanged a knowing look, "What you have never seen is pissed off Adria when her family is being threatened.She wasn’t necessarily coming out to help guard but more to make sure we were doing it the ‘right’ way."

Both guys began to laugh, "she had us stationed around the house so there wasn’t a single side left unprotected, and every 15 minutes we had to switch spots to keep us alert."

Zayd was shaking his head as he spoke.

Dane walked into the kitchen wearing only a pair of sweatpants that hung dangerously low on his hips.

"Did we wake you?" I asked as he wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on top of mine.

He was watching Zayd playing with Kyra.

"No, you didn’t wake me.It’s just time to get up."

The front door opened as Adria came rushing in, have no idea how much trouble you two were fixing to be in." she pointed her finger at Ash and Zayd.

"Holly invited us in for coffee,"

Zayd started telling her as he walked toward her with Kyra, "you know I would never leave this angel unprotected."

Adria sighed, "I know honey, I just...I won’t let them get to her."

Zayd handed Kyra to her, "None of us will,"

Ash finally spoke.

I looked at Dane when there was a light knock at the door, "It’s Genesis and Blaze,"

Ash said as he went to open the door.

"Good morning,"

Genesis greeted as she followed Blaze into the house.

Blaze went straight to Adria and began talking to Kyra.

After setting Kyra on her playmat, Adria came and sat down at the table with us, "Should we have our meeting now or later in the office?"

She cut straight to the point.

"We just need Colby here and we can do it now.No reason to wait." I answered.

"He’s on his way,"

Dane reached over, slipping his hand into mine.

seat at the

everyone about my ‘dream’ and received many

and Zayd exchanging looks the whole time I was talking, making me feel as if they knew

finally asked, looking

are some things that just haven’t

my hand

eyebrows as I stared at

questioned further when he didn’t elaborate friendly, maybe a little too friendly, and when he told

Now we are to believe that Devin and Nyla were able to not only bring him down but wound him with a

their thoughts, "Apollo has never been one to tolerate disrespect from anyone.He’s a very strict ruler.His command alone can even bring an Alpha to his knees, yet he

to hurt him," I repeated what Jarek had

"I wish that I could believe that babe, but in all honesty, Apollo could have taken them both down without hurting them.His command may not work on Devin, just as it didn’t seem to affect you, but it

we met and our conversations since then, trying to think of anything that seemed odd, but other than what Dane pointed out, I

you think Apollo is a part

looked at Zayd this time who had been

any of us realized.I know this isn’t

Zayd told me gently.

little at the thought of being betrayed by my father, the father lam just starting to get

you could get in of his

need training kicked back up and regular sweeps up to two miles outside the border done at least three

a bow of heads, a resounding, "Yes

dad calls, you

he sat down next to me.I was now

I understand," I replied, not really in the mood for conversation

the packhouse soon.I have some phone calls to make.Do you want to stay home today, or do you

the packhouse." I smiled

want you out walking around by

at him in

to the packhouse, stopping a few times to speak with

next door to his where Adria

of them that looked to be hundreds of years

"Any luck?"

bounce seat.I’m pretty sure Kyra has toys, playpens, and

me shaking their heads,

Adria replied.

Our to be read often.I carefully flipped through the pages as I scanned for anything about the Moon

is rare, but the Moon Goddess has appeared in dreams before.But it doesn’t

as she rose from her

go get Blaze and I will be back

to fuss just as Dane walked through the door, "Any luck?" he asked as he picked

the book she was currently reading and stood stretching her limbs out, "Not yet

said he would meet us downstairs for lunch," Dane

hanging on the wall above the door, surprised

would explain Kyra’s mood

to miss a

downstairs together, meeting up with everyone as we entered

Kyra in her highchair between her

everything that has happened and is still happening, I couldn’t help but realize that even though Apollo has been friendly

conversations are focused mainly on Kyra and how she

think it was odd until

how things were going there, Apollo would always quickly change

be," I murmured lost

we should talk privately after

of worry, but he didn’t push the

doesn’t really trust him, but could Apollo be the mastermind behind this? I didn’t

into a thousand knots.I didn’t want to believe that Apollo’s intentions had been

eating lunch, Genesis and Adria took the kids to her house so they could take a nap while the rest of us went

brains behind all of this," I stated not

in surprise at

person since, but I have regular phone calls with him.Every phone call is about me and Kyra, mainly Kyra though.Anytime I ask about Devin, or how things are going there, or the prophecy, he is quick to change the subject or gives me very vague

silence once I finished spilling

office to gauge everyone’s

that I don’t believe you, because I agree with you.I do think Apollo is playing a part, but whether he is the brains or not I can’t say.I think that Devin is

my head as I thought about it, continuing

the phone

I looked at Zayd.

he was on the phone before lunch, and I am assuming

say he was planning to come

face a little, "Why not talk on the

smiled at me, "Vampires are very

as he led me to sit down, "And your

a sigh, wishing none of this

Dane looked at Zayd,

"I explained everything that was going on.He’s one of the very few people I fully trust to discuss this with.He asked about the bordering

pack, but then again, there aren't too many things he wouldn’t do for

felt he needed to move his pack

does he want to do that?"

with his family and, as far as the Royal Pack goes, his

was shocked to hear his loyalty wasn’t

been willing to stand beside us

Adria call him

Ash and Colby that Dominick will be

alone in the office, the